Technological developments over the past years have resulted in higher quality tires that meet tougher safety and performance standards, and have longer life spans. This helps meet the need for REDUCTION, the less tires produced, the less tires end up in Ontario's landfills.

The drawback is that scrap tires are more difficult to recycle because of their complex chemistry. Tires today are made of natural and synthetic rubbers, elastomers, and fine powders called carbon blacks in variable mixtures. As a result reclaiming the rubber from scrap tires close enough to it's original form is too difficult for success in using it again in the production of new tires.

The resale of reusable tires contributes to reduction. When replacement tires are purchased, tire dealers take back used tires from consumers and a portion that are in good condition can be resold back to the public. The best use for a worn tire is to have it retreaded. Every time a passenger tire is retreaded over 4 gallons of oil is saved from producing a new tire and 15 gallons for a truck tire, according to The Tire Retread Information Bureau (website: http://www.retread.org/).

Retreaded tires meet strict performance and safety standards just like new tires and will last a long time with proper maintenance. Retreading has declined over the past few years mainly due to the fact that new tires cost only a bit more and the public's perception of retreads is one of poor quality and reliability. Retreaded truck tires are more successful as there is a greater cost difference compared to new truck tires.

Other uses for whole scrap tires include landscape borders, playground equipment, dock bumpers, highway crash barriers, artificial reefs and breakwaters.

Prolong the service life of your tires by having them checked regularly for proper inflation pressure, rotation, correct balance and wheel alignment. Avoid making sudden starts and turns which wear tires out more quickly. Don't drive into curbs and try driving less frequently by taking alternative forms of transportation. You'll extend the life of your tires and assist the environment.

As for RECYCLING tires...

Tires are made of approximately 65 percent rubber, 10 percent fibre and 25 percent steel by weight. Tires are recycled through a grinding, shredding, magnetic separating, screening and sorting process.

Some manufacturers of scrap tire products shred whole tires into pieces or stamp parts out of tire side walls for assembly into new products such as door mats, handbags or floor coverings. The market for this type of product is small so other solutions are always being investigated.

Other manufacturers use a combination of physical and chemical processes to produce granulated rubber (crumb rubber). Crumb rubber can be used as a substitute for virgin rubber in a variety of rubber-based products such as bonding tape, irrigation pipes, carpet underlay, footwear, recreational surfaces, joint and crack sealants and waterproofing compounds for roofs and walls.

The material can also be molded into such things as car parts. The automotive companies have been supportive of recycling efforts because the recycled rubber is highly durable, and company officials say use of recycled rubber in selected parts will not sacrifice quality.

Essex County and Windsor Residents can bring their scrap tires to Transfer Station No. 1 (Windsor) or Transfer Station No. 2 (Kingsville) for a small disposal/recycling fee.